Rotary steam vapor and external combustion engine

ABSTRACT

A rotary steam vapor and external combustion engine in which the rotor is driven on one side by steam and on the other side by hot products of combustion underpressure. Dual inlets and outlets are provided for opposite sides of the rotor. Dual rotors with any desired combination of steam power and products of combustion power may be used. Two principles involved in the invention are the use of steam and combustible fuel in the same engine and an external combustor which involves fuel charging at low pressure and firing at high pressure outside the engine.

1 9 1|" Umted States atent 1191 1111 3,869,863

Juge Mar. 11, 1975 ROTARY STEAM VAPOR AND EXTERNAL 2,403,388 7/1946 Morey et a1. 60/3919 COMBUSTION ENGINE 3,325,992 6/1967 Sheldon 60/3918 B 3,426,525 2/1969 Rubm 418/61 A Inventor: Mark A. Juge, 8591 Wllllllg Way, 3,452,643 7/1969 Pratt 418/61 A Fair Oaks, Calif. 95628 3,628,899 12/1971 George 418/61 A Filed: Ju y 6, 9 3 3,744,941 7/1973 Nestor 418/61 A [21] Appl. No.: 382,773 Primary Examiner-Carlt0n R. Croyle Assistant Examiner-Warren Olsen Related A'pphcmmn Data Attorney, Agent, or FirmBlair & Brown [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 343,964, March 22,

[57 ABSTRACT 52 us. on 60/39.19, 60/3961, 418/61 A Steam Y *"F external 9 engine 511 1111. c1. F0lk 25/06 whch by and 1 he other side by hot products of combustion un- [58] Field of Search 60/3919, 39.18 B, 39.15, Ont

derpressure. Dual mlets and outlets are provided for 60/3934, 39.59, 39.61, 418/61 A opposite sides of the rotor. Dual rotors with any de- 159 22231582322132,9,392123 1523111151?1:?

uNlTEDsTTEs PATENTS volved in the invention are the use of steam and com- 926,l57 WClSS bustible fuel in the same engine and an externalcom.

bustor which involves fuel charging at low pressure ooper 1,741,957 12 1929 Sedlmeir.... 60/3919 and firmg at pressure outs'de the 1,752,253 3/1930 Gofnard 60/3918 B 1 Claim, 17 Drawing Figures FATENTEB MRI 1 i975 sum 2 [IF 5 mm mm s ROTARY STEAM VAPOR AND EXTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 343,964 filed Mar. 22, 1973, entitled Rotary Steam Vapor and External Combustion Engine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to rotary engines of the type driven by steam vapors and by hot products of combustion underpressure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A rotary engine in which the rotor is fed steam underpressure on one side of the rotor andhot products of combustion resulting from a combustion device fed to the opposite side of the rotor to produce six power strokes in each revolution of the rotor. Dual rotors with any desired combination of steam and products of combustion power may be used to produce 12 power strokes per revolution. The rotor is geared to a drive shaft which is the work shaft of the engine. The combustor is charged with fuel at low pressures which are fired at high pressures outside the engine.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an engine driven by both steam underpressure and hot products of combustion underpressure simultaneously.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in light of the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a semi-diagrammatic view of the invention, shown partially in section for convenience of illustration;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the rotor and gears associated therewith;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a hot gas producing apparatus forming a part of the present system;

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view, taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 with the piston in its uppermost position;

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view, taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 9 is an end elevation of a modified gear train shown partially broken away and in section for convenience of illustration;

FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the structure illus trated in FIG. 9, shown partially broken away and in section;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken through a modified form of a hot gas producing apparatus used with the system;

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to FIG. 3 of a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 13 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 1313 of FIG. 12, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view, taken on the line 14-14 of FIG. 12, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the free running guide;

FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a modified form of the invention; and

FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 3 of the structure shown in FIG. 16.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral 20 indicates generally a steam vapor and hot gas powered engine system constructed in accordance with the invention.

The system 20 includes a housing 21 having a chamber 22 formed therein to receive a rotor 23 of the Wankel type.

A second chamber 24 is formed in the housing 21 and has a rotor 25 arranged therein of the Wankel type. A shaft 26 extends through the housing 21 and is supported on ball bearings 27 as can be seen in FIG. 3.

A compression housing 28 is arranged in aligned relation and adjacent the engine housing 21 with the shaft 26 extending therethrough and supported on ball bearings 29. A rotor 30 is mounted in a chamber 31 in the housing 28 and a second rotor 32 is mounted in a chamber 33 in the housing 28.

A separate planetary gear train 34 couples each of the rotors 23, 25, 30 and 32 to the shaft 26. The gear train 34' includes a crank 35 mounted on and keyed to a stub shaft 36. The stub shaft 36 is supported in a hearing 37 in the housing 21 and is also supported in a plate 38 through which it extends. The housing 21 has a gear 39 formed thereon meshing with a plurality of planet gears 40 which are mounted on and keyed to the stub shaft 36. The gear train 34 has a sun and orbit relationship so as to drive its shaft 26 as the rotor 23 is rotated.

An inlet port is provided for allowing steam underpressure to enter the chamber 22 on the upper side of the rotor 23. An exhaust port 46 is provided on the opposite side of the housing 21 in aligned relation to the inlet port 45 to exhaust the steam vapors from the chamber 22. An inlet port 47 for combustion gases is formed on the housing 21 communicating with the chamber 22 to admit hot combustion gases underpressure below the rotor 23. An exhaust port 48 is formed in the opposite side of the housing 21 communicating with the chamber 22 in aligned relation to the inlet port 47 for exhausting the hot combustion gases from the chamber 22.

Referring now to FIG. 1 the system 20 also includes a hot gas producing apparatus indicated generally at 49 and shown in greater detail in FIGS. 5 through 8.

The apparatus 49 includes a block 50 having a cylinder 51 extending therethrough. A cylinder head 52 closes the upper end of the cylinder 51. A piston 53 reciprocates in the cylinder 51 and has a connecting rod 54 extending to a shaft (not shown). The cylinder head 52 has a fluid inlet pipe 55 connected thereto communicating with a tortuous path 56 extending through the cylinder head 52 and'communicating with an outlet port 57 in the block 50.

A fuel inlet port 58 is formed in the block 50 at a point spaced below the cylinder head 52. An exhaust port 59 is formed in the opposite side of the block 50 at apoint spaced below the inlet port 58. An exhaust conduit 60 is formed in the piston 53 and extends from a large bore 61 in the top of the piston 53 to an outlet port 62 which is adapted to communicate with the exhaust port 59 when the piston 53 is in its uppermost position, as illustrated in FIG. 7. A small piston 63 is adapted to reciprocate in the bore 61 and is urged upwardly therein by a coil spring 64. The piston 63 is adapted to cover the upper end of the exhaust conduit 60 when the piston 63 is in its uppermost position to seal the exhaust conduit 60. The piston 63 is adapted to be driven downwardly in the bore 61 by fuel explosions in the cylinder 51 to uncover the exhaust conduit 60 and permit exhaust gases to flow outwardly through the exhaust port 59. A spark plug 65 extends through the head 52 to explode the gases in the cylinder 61 in a conventional manner.

Referring now to FIG. 1 a water storage tank 66 is connected through a pump 67 to a condenser 68 by means of a conduit 69. Liquid from the pump 67 passing through the condenser 68 feeds through the conduit 69 to the fluid inlet pipe 55 of the head 52. The water or liquid flowing through the head 52 is preheated and flows from the outlet port 57 through a conduit 70 to a selector valve 71. A conduit 72 flows from the selector valve 71 to the condenser 68 and to the water storage tank 66. A conduit 73 also extends from the selector valve 71 to a selector valve 74 which in turn is connected by a conduit 75 to a steam generator or regenerator 76 or by a conduit 77 which extends to a steam generator or regenerator 78 and to the upper portion of the steam generator or regenerator 76. The generators or regenerators 76, 78 are connected to the inlet port 45 and the exhaust port 46 respectively through pressure release valves 79 and 80.

Hot exhaust gases flow out of the apparatus 49 through the exhaust port 59 into a conduit 81 to an after burner 82 which serves the dual purpose of providing a point for'reignition of unburned fuel as well as a chamber to smooth out pulsations from the apparatus 49. An exhaust gas conduit 83 extends from the after burner 82 to the inlet port 47 in the housing 21. Exhaust gases from the housing 21 flow out through the exhaust port 48 into a conduit 84 connected to the upper portion of the steam generator or regenerator 78. Exhaust gases flow from the generator 78 through a conduit 85 to selector valve 86. The selector valve 86 is selectively connected to an exhaust pipe 87 extending to the atmosphere or to a pipe 88 extending into the water tank 66 to warm the water therein as required.

In the use and operation of the invention the apparatus 49 is first operated and the exhaust gases are fed to the lower half of the rotor 23 to cause it to rotate in the chamber 22. The valves 79 and 80 are open to the atmosphere to relieve all pressure on the upper portion of the rotor 23. The exhaust gases pass through the steam generator 78 to produce steam therein and as the pressure of steam rises in the steam generator 78 the valves 79, 80 are closed and steam is fed into the upper portion of the chamber 22 to assist in driving the rotor with exhaust steam passing through the regenerator 76 to be used to pr-e-heat fluid passing to the steam generator 78. Fluid flow through the head 52 of the apparatus 49 and is pre-heated thereby and passes through the regenerator 76 to the generator 78 where steam is formed. Exhaust steam from the regenerator 76 flows back to the condenser 68 and is then fed back to the head 52 in a closed system.

A modified gear train 34, illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, also may be used to couple each of the rotors 23, 25, 30 and 32 to the shaft 26. The gear train 34' includes a crank 35 journalled in a plate 36 and carrying a spur gear 37 thereon. A idler spur gear 38' is mounted between the plate 36 and a plate 39' and is meshed with the spur gear 37. A shaft 40' is journalled in the plate 36 and in a plate 41' extending through the plate 39. A spur gear 42' on the shaft 40 meshes with the idler gear 38 and a second spur gear 43' on the shaft 40 meshes with a gear 44' mounted on the shaft 26. The'gear train 34' has a sun and orbit relationship so as to drive the shaft 26 as the rotor 23 is rotated.

A modified hot gas producing apparatus is illustrated as a combustor in FIG. 11 wherein a combustion chamber 89 is provided with an intake conduit 90 and exhaust conduit 91. An intake valve 92 and an exhaust valve 93 are actuated by a cam shaft 94 driven by an electric motor 95. A spark plug 96 in the combustion chamber 89 is adapted to explode or burn the fuel therein and a portion of the fuel forces a spring closed valve 97 to open to admit a portion of the products of combustion to enter a chamber 98 from which it flows through a conduit 99 to the lower portion of the housing 21 connected to the inlet port 47. Preheating water coils 100 surrounds conduit 101 leading from the chamber 98 to the manifold 102 from which the conduit 99 leads. The use and operation of the system utilizing the modified form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 11 is identical to that described for FIG. 1.

The rotors 30 and 32 in the housing 23 provide primary and secondary compression to feed compressed air as required to the combustor illustrated in FIG. 11.

In a modified form of the invention, the system 20 will include a modified housing 121 having a chamber 122 formed therein to receive a rotor 123 of the Wankel type.

A second chamber 124 is formed in the housing 121 and has a rotor 125 arranged therein of the Wankel type. A shaft 126 extends to the housing 121 and is supported on ball bearings 127, as can be seen in FIG. 12.

A compression housing 128 is arranged in aligned relation and adjacent the engine housing 121 with the shaft 126 extending therethrough and supported on ball bearings 129. A rotor 130 is mounted in a chamber 131 in the housing 128 and a second rotor 132 is mounted in a chamber 133 in the housing 128.

A separate gear train 134 couples each of the rotors 123, 125, 130 and 132 to the shaft 136. The gear train 134 includes internal gear 135 formed centrally in one side of the rotor 123. The gear 135 is meshed with a small gear 136 keyed to the shaft 126 by key 137. An interal gear 138 is formed in the side of the rotor 123 opposite the gear 135 and meshes with a gear 139 formed on a ring 140 extending inwardly of the housing 121.

The gear train 134 has a sun and orbit relationship so as to drive its shaft 126 as the rotor 123 is rotated in the chamber 122. Each of the rotors 125, 130 and 132 are provided with gear trains 134 identical to that of the rotor 123.

Each. of the rotors 1.23, 125, 130 and 132 are journalled on a free running guide 141 having a cylindrical outer wall142 andon off center base 143 journalled on the shaft 126. The free running guide 141 maintains the correct mesh relation between the gears.

In the use and operation of the modification illustrated in FIGS. 12 through 14, the housing 21 is replaced with the housing 121 with the system operating identically as described in the form of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

The preferred form of the invention, FIGS. 16 and 17 incorporates all systems of the invention and relates to all other modifications as follows;

Housing 221 FIG. 16 corresponds to housing 21 FIG. 1, and to housing 121 FIG. 13. Housing 221 FIG. 17 corresponds to housing 121 and 128 FIG. 12.

Rotors 223, 225, 230 and 232 correspond to rotor 23 FIG. 1 and rotors 123, 125, 130 and 132 in FIG. 12. Guide 241 FIG. 17 is identical to Guide 141 FIG. 15.

Combustors 249 and 252 correspond with combustor 49 FIG. 1 and FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 11. Combustion Chamber 253 corresponds to Combustion Chamber 89 FIG. 11. Chamber 283 corresponds to chamber 98 FIG. 11. Valve 254 corresponds to Valves 92, 94 and 97 FIG. 11.

Water jacket-preheaters 260 and 261 correspond to preheater 56 FIG. 7.

Water pumps 256 through 259 correspond to water pump 67 FIG. 1.

Steam generators 276 and 278 corresponds to steam generators 76 and 78 FIG. 1. 262 in combination with 283 is a third steam generator. 283 also functions like chamber 82 FIG. 1.

Valves 271 and 274 correspond to 71 and 74 respectively of FIG. 1. Valve 279 corresponds to valve 79 and valve 80 FIG. 1.

Conduit 245 corresponds to conduit 45 FIG. 1 and conduit 246 corresponds to conduit 46 FIG. 1.

Shaft 226 corresponds to shaft 26 in FIGS. 2, 3, 9 and 10. Shaft 226 also corresponds to Shaft 126 FIG. 12.

Gears 235, 236, 238 and 239 correspond to gears 135, 136, 138 and 139 FIG. 12. Referring now to FIGS. 16 and 17 a reference numeral 220 indicates generally a modified steam vapor and hot gas powered engine system constructed in accordance with the invention.

The system 220 includes a housing 221 having a chamber 222 formed therein to receive a rotor 223 of the Wankel type.

A second chamber 224 is formed in the housing 221 and has a rotor 225 arranged therein of the Wankel type. A shaft 226 extends through the housing 221. A Wankel type rotor 230 is mounted in a chamber 231 in the housing 221 and a Wankel type rotor 232 is mounted in a chamber 233 in the housing 221. A gear train including gears 235, 236 coupled each of the rotors 223, 225, 230 and 232 to the shaft 226. A gear 250 is mounted on the shaft 226 at one end thereof and a spur gear 251 is meshed with the gear 250 and has a distributor shaft 237 extending therefrom. The spur gear 251 is mounted in the housing 221.

An inlet port 245 is provided for allowing steam underpressure to enter the chamber 222 on the lower side of the rotor 223. An exhaust port 246 is provided on the opposite side of the housing 221 in aligned relation to the inlet port 245 to exhaust steam vapors from the chamber 222. An inlet port 247 for combustion gases is formed on the housing 221 communicating with the chamber 222 to admit hot combustion gases underpressure on the upper side ofthe rotor 223. An exhaust port 248 is formed in the opposite side of the housing 221 communicating with the chamber 222 in aligned relation to the inlet port 247 for exhausting the hot combustion gases from the chamber 222.

The system 220 also includes a hot gas producing apparatus indicated generally at 249 and included in the housing 221.

The apparatus 249 includes a combustor 252 havin a combustion chamber 253 formed therein.

The combustionchamber 253 is alternately coupled to the chambers 222, 224, and by means of a rotary three-way valve 254. The valve 254 is mounted in the housing 221 and has a gear 255 formed thereon meshing with the spur gear 251 so as to rotate the valve 254 when the shaft 226 rotates. An eccentric 256 is formed on the gear 255 to reciprocate a piston rod 257 connected thereto. The piston rod 257 is connected to a piston 258 in a cylinder 259 to form a water pump for the system 220.

In FIG. 17 the right hand rotors 223, 225 are driven by hot exhaust gases and by steam to form the engine portion of the system 220 while the rotors 230, 232 are compression rotors for compressing the air and fuel for use in the system. The combustor 252 has water channels 260 and 261 serving as a water jacket to simultaneously cool the combustor 252 and heat the water circulated therethrough. A pair of heat exchangers 276, 278 receive the heated water from the combustor 252 through pipes 270, valve 271 and pipes 273, valve 274 and this heated water is turned into steam by exhaust gases flowing from the exhaust port 248 through a pipe 284 to the heat exchanger 278. Exhaust steam flows out of the exhaust port 246 of the housing 221 through a pipe 273 to the heat exchanger 276 to obtain the last possible heat therefrom.

Steam is circulated through steam passages 262 in the housing 221 to form a third heat exchanger for assisting in further heating the steam. A pressure relief valve 279 acts as a by-pass for the steam pressure and serves as a throttle in operation of the system.

The use and operation of the system 200 is similar to that of the system 20 varying only in the described structural details.

Having thus described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations in addition to those shown may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a rotary steam vapor and hot gas powered engine system, a housing having a substantially triangular rotor mounted therein, a shaft extending through said housing, said rotor and shaft being geared directly to each other whereby a variety of ratios are permitted between the shaft and rotor, means for feeding steam vapor to one side of said rotor to drive said rotor, means for simultaneously feeding products of combustion to another side of said rotor to drive said rotor, a steam generator for producing steam that is fed to said rotor, means including a combustion chamber for producing hot gases for feeding to another side of said rotor, means for conducting the hot gases from said last named means to said steam generator, said engine system utilizing two different fluids simultaneously within the housing, said combustion chamber being chargeable at a pressure that is much lower than the operating pressure in the engine, and a valve means located in said combustion products feeding means, which is openable at the time of ignition in said combustion chamber to permit selective explosion of a charge. 

1. In a rotary steam vapor and hot gas powered engine system, a housing having a substantially triangular rotor mounted therein, a shaft extending through said housing, said rotor and shaft being geared directly to each other whereby a variety of ratios are permitted between the shaft and rotor, means for feeding steam vapor to one side of said rotor to drive said rotor, means for simultaneously feeding products of combustion to another side of said rotor to drive said rotor, a steam generator for producing steam that is fed to said rotor, means including a combustion chamber for producing hot gases for feeding to another side of said rotor, means for conducting the hot gases from said last named means to said steam generator, said engine system utilizing two different fluids simultaneously within the housing, said combustion chamber being chargeable at a pressure that is much lower than the operating pressure in the engine, and a valve means located in said combustion products feeding means, which is openable at the time of ignition in said combustion chamber to permit selective explosion of a charge. 